Andy Kamenetzky here, the host of the daily Locked On Lakers podcast, with your daily Locked On Lakers newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Lakers and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Lakers Still Finding Identity with Celtics Up Next
The Washington Wizards are a catastrophically bad basketball team. So LA’s 111-88 win over the Wiz Tuesday at the Crypt won’t exactly change the vibe around the team.
The Lakers, at 23-18 and sitting in sixth in the Western Conference, are viewed much more as a team with the 18th ranked point differential among the 20 playoff/play-in team across the league than they are a legitimate threat to do anything significant in the playoffs. And it’s easy to understand why. The win over Washington ran LA’s record to 12-1 against teams under .500. A great mark for sure, but it’s undercut by an 11-17 mark against teams above .500.
That’s the worst percentage among the top 10 teams in the Conference.
And now it gets harder. It starts with the Celtics on Thursday. While Boston is slumping (by their standards), the Celtics are defending champions, and easily one of the league’s most talented teams. And whatever focus issues they’ve had over the course of the year won’t be a problem on Thursday. From there, the Lakers play five games on the road (dragging an 8-12 record with them) and then a sixth at Intuit against a Clippers team that thoroughly outplayed them last Sunday. Can they, at the very least, take care of the bad teams they’ll see on the trip, like Charlotte and Washington? A struggling Philly team that can’t keep a lineup on the floor? What about a mid Golden State team that’s basically been .500 at home?
A good team would, at minimum, go 3-3 over the next six. Maybe the Lakers can. Thursday’s game could reveal a lot about what’s to come. If the Lakers can dial up their focus and execution, that’s a sign (win or lose) that the five games following it could be worth watching.
But if they get blown out?
—BK
More From This Episode...
-What are the Lakers, halfway through the season?
-Dorian Finney-Smith is set to play more minutes... and why he wasn’t playing more minutes already.
-What Thursday’s game against the Celtics might mean for the upcoming road trip.
A midseason report for seasons to come: part three
Jan 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. | Rick Osentoski/Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
I’m far from being an insider (mostly I like sleep too much, and those guys never do), but there’s information you glean just from being proximal to the game. There are trends in questions and answers from coaches and players, plus recurring conversations with fellow media, team staff, scouts and agents. When alongside the pulse of NBA basketball, you pick up its reverberations.
One big, undeniable beat I’ve picked up on this season is the growing awareness that vey soon we’re going to start losing perennial stars. I say “we” and not only the league because the realization really does feel collective. Case in point, when the topic of the Warriors dynasty drawing to a slow, potentially quiet close comes up, it’s never solely in relation to the team.
The decline of Golden State is always held alongside the state of the league as a whole, either what it means for competition or in broader strokes, how the mechanics of the game itself will change without a dominant Steph Curry. And that detail is never explicitly mentioned. Even the most primetime of pundits have a reticence to predict when we’ll see the last of Curry, as if giving it consideration is a kind of jinx.
The counter to that is LeBron James, who cannot be discussed enough in relation to his retirement, but that endless guessing feels safe because James has proved prediction wrong so many times in what were meant to be his quieting seasons.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Biz Jalen Green becomes the face of his longtime favorite brand, Stone Island. (High Snobriety)
Analysis Dorian Finney-Smith’s defense has been a standout for the Lakers, showcasing impressive stats in a recent game against the Wizards. His performance highlights the strategic value he brings to the team’s defensive lineup. (Silver Screen and Roll)
Analysis Player grades from the Lakers’ recent game against the Wizards reveal strong contributions from Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Detailed evaluations provide insights into individual performances and team dynamics. (Silver Screen and Roll)
Milestone LeBron James continues to amaze NBA fans, achieving a historic triple-double in a win against the Wizards. His remarkable feat underscores his enduring excellence and milestone achievements. (Bleacher Report)
Rumor The latest NBA trade deadline buzz includes speculation about potential moves involving the Lakers. The BS Meter evaluates the credibility of these intriguing rumors and their implications for the team. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Five NBA Players to Buy Low in Fantasy Basketball
Jan 20, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) stands on the court after meeting with Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) before the start of the game at the Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images | Cary Edmondson/Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
As we approach the midpoint of the NBA season, it’s time to reassess our fantasy basketball strategies. Today, I’m sharing insights on five players who are prime candidates for “buy low” opportunities in your leagues.
Paolo Banchero tops our list. The Orlando Magic forward is currently the 79th ranked player, well below his potential. His shooting percentages are down, and he’s only averaging 21 points per game since returning from injury. However, I believe Banchero is a top 40 player in points leagues and has room for significant improvement. Don’t be fooled by his current struggles – this is an excellent time to acquire him at a discount.
Next up is Evan Mobley. The Cleveland Cavaliers big man is dealing with a calf strain, which has impacted his recent performance. His defensive stats and usage are down, but this presents a perfect buy-low scenario. Mobley is a third-round talent you might be able to snag for a fourth-round price. While there’s some injury risk, the potential reward outweighs it.
Lakers Acquire Center Mark Williams for Knecht, 1st Round Pick and Pick Swap: All In for Luka and LeBron Shortly after arriving in Los Angeles, new superstar Luka Doncic made it clear the type of center he likes to play with. Active, athletic, and with the ability to get up to be a vertical threat. Ask and you shall receive, Mr. Doncic. Late Wednesday evening, (via ESPN’s Shams Charania) the Lakers agreed to a deal with the Charlotte Hornets to acquire 23-year old 7-footer Mark Williams in exchange for Dalton Knecht, Cam Reddish, an unprotected first rounder in 2031 and a pick swap in 2030.
This pick is reflective of the new world of options opened up to the franchise by acquiring Doncic.
With Luka Watching, the Lakers Blow Out the Clippers, 122-97 Behind 26/8/9 from LeBron James The Lakers put out quite an effort on the defensive end Saturday, when they beat the Knicks in New York. Tuesday against the Clippers, they did it again, this time without Max Christie, who was with the Mavs making his debut for Dallas. Final score, 122-97. This was a top 3 defense in the league, and the Lakers lit them up, and controlled the game throughout. And obviously this was done without Luka Doncic on the floor. (LA’s new star is targeting Saturday vs. Indiana to make his debut in purple and gold.)
Luka Dončić Says Hello, Anthony Davis Says Goodbye, and NBA Media is Desperate for LeBron Drama The Lakers shifted their organizational focus from LeBron James and Anthony Davis to Luka Dončić with Saturday’s seismic trade. Everything they do going forward will be done from the POV of a roster built around Luka. That much is obvious, because Star A is 25 and Star B is 40.
